Cushion-filling machine



Aug. 13, 1929. 4 'M, H LANG 1,124,030

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet J Zlwwzntoz H 2s mar-fin H. Lat- 3 Aug. 13, 1929. MHLAN 1,724,030

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I3 e I9 9 e I 7r 00 I0 u 06 I so amen tot Flm-fin H. Lu u atboznut File July 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet Tiili.

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Aug. 13, 1929. M. H. LANG CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Plm-Tin H. Lu a Aug. 13, 1929. LANG 1,724,030

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE File July 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES MARTIN H. LANG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CUSHION-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed July 29, 1825. Serial No. 46,738.

My invention relates to cushion filling machines wherein it is desired to provide a cushion filling machine which is adapted to operate automatically to force the material into cushion under compression and in a manner so that it will completely fill the cushion and extend clear into the corners and edges of the same. It is a feature of my invention to provide simple, effective operating means for quickly filling the cushions so that the operators use both hands in the handling of the cushion, while the operation of the machine is entirely automatic after it is operated by the foot of the op erator. This is quite important as various cushion machines have been designed to fill cushions in other ways but without provid ing the effectiveness in the construction and operation which is most desirable to the operator and to the simple operation in filhng of the cushion.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive ope 'ating means which is compactly designed to take up a small space and which is counted out in a manner so that the parts operate very readily and automatically when they are released to open and close the stufling box to automatically operate the same, so as to receive the desired cushion over the receiving end of the same It is quite desirable that a cushion filling machine which is designed for the fillin of cushions used in making certain kinds of furniture and household articles where cush ions are employed, that the construction of the same be so designed that the operator can easily manipulate the parts without a large amount ofelfort and so that the operator can have his hands free most of the time to handle the cushion, straightening the same over the receiving end of the stufiing box, and receiving the cushion in his hands as it is pushed off of the stuffing box when it is filled with the stufiing material.

The compact nature of my stutiing machine is an important feature in the invention and the stuffing machine is a selfopcrating unit having electric motor means for operating the same, contained in and carried by the frame which sup sorts all of the operating parts in close re ation to each other and with the lever means for operating the stufling plunger projecting from the b g of the machine and put of the way so that the operator can freely operate and readily apply the cushion to the receiving end of the stuffing box at the front of the machine. It is essential. that the stuiling plunger has a considerable movement in operation so as to take care of a deep cushion and permit the plunger to operate through the stufiing box to push the stuffing material into the cushion. The cushion is pushed over the receiving or open end of the stuffing box in the form of a pillow-like nature with one side open so as fit over the open end of the stuffing box. This cushion covering is slipped freely over the open end of the stuffing box and by simple operation of the lever the unit mechanism of my stuffing machine is operated to cause the plunger to make a single operation and push the stuifing material into the pillow cover which forms the outer casing of the cushion. As the stuffing material is pushed into the pillow, the pillow or casing is pushed off of the stuffing box so that at the complete stroke of the plunger the cushion is filled with the stuffing material and is pushed off of the ends of the stu'liing box. 111 my machine this operation is entirely automatic after the operator presses the foot lever which sets the clutch into operation to cause the plunger to operate to fill the cushion casing or pillow.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a stufiing box which is adjustable having sides or portions made of thin sheet material which are fitted together in a manner so as to be adjusted into a narrow or wider width suitable to the desired cushion which is to be filled. The stuffing box constitutes a top and bottom portion. These portions are hingedly arranged in relation to each other so as to open and close to receive the stuffing material readily. It is preferred to have the lower portion of this stufling box heldrigid: ly to the frame, while the upper portion is hingedly or pivotally connected back of the lower portion sufficiently far, so that the upper portion will. raise completely clear of the lower portion and back away from the same. The upper portion is counterbalanced by weight means so that it can be easily operated into open or closed position. This is an important feature of my inven tion.

My invention includes screw operative means to draw the section of the stufiin bogs;

together or separate them so as to adjust the width of the stuliing box to the cushion cas ing to be filled. I provide automatic means for operating these screw propelling means for adjusting the width of the stui'iing box.

These features together with other details of construction will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cushion filling machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective vie. i of my cushion filling machine with the parts in a dill'erent position than is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4; is a detail of a portion of my cushion filling machine.

Figure 5 is an end view of a portion of my machine.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of my machine.

Figure 7 is a side view of a detail portion of my machine. Figure 8 is aside view of my machine. In the drav'ings my cushion filling machine A is made up of a simple, compact construction, having only a small number of operable parts which are adapted to operzte together in a manner to fill cushion casings These cushion casings are ordinarily made up in a pillow-like formation with conparatively square side walls so that when the cushion is filled it makes a rectangular cushion or pillow-like member, which is stuffed very lull oi the stufiing material to completely fill the same in a manner so that the corners and edges are completely filled out, to cause the cushion to have a very full and attractive appearance, together with ad ing to the firmness Oil the cushion when is completed.

The cushion filling machine A is provided with a base B which is made up of side members 10 and 11 from which depend the le 12 which upon the floor. A shelf 13 is supportedby the frame B between the sides 10 and 11 upon which the electric motor 1% A in a manner so that all of the opera i parts are unit connected and operated through the motor 14, and are connected together and extend between the sides 10 and 11.

My cushion filling machine A is provided with a felt receiving stuffing box C which is made up of the lower portion 15 and the upper portion 16.

The lower portion 15 is rigidly fixed to the top of the sides 10 and. l]. to be held in an approximately horizontal plane, practical y parallel with the floor on wh ch the legs 12 of the machine A rest. It is obvious that the portion 15 of the stufling box C can he attached to any suitable place in relation to the frame B and might be placed in an angular position if it is so oesired.

The parts 15 and 16 are formed of sections so that they can slidably fit together.

The lower portion 15 is provided with a central platc lilre portion 18 which is held rigidly and firmly in place, centrally of" the base B, in a suitable manner, while portions 19 are slidably held with the edge 20 overlapping the outer longitudinal edge of the plate 18, as illustrated in Figure 5. The end members 19 are carried by the threaded shaft 21 which provided with right and left hand portions adapted to engage in the bracket supporting members 22 which are so, cured to the members 19.

The members 19 are of a right angular shape having up ardly extending side walls 23 to which are secured side plates 24: which are spaced away to form a longitudinally extending recess 25 along the outer upper edge of the side walls These recesses are adapted to receive the depending sides 26 which are formed on the angular side incinliers 27 of the top 16 of the stuiiing box C.

The top 16 of th stuifing box 0 is shown in an end YlQW in Figure 4, and i illusiratml made up of a construction similar to the bottom 15. The top 16 is provided with a central plate portion 28 which is held by two transverfiely extending shafts 20, which extend across the top of the cover 16 and which are adapted to extend through the sides 30 of the arm 31. The shafts 2S) cxlcud upproximately parallel to each other and extend through the sides 30 of the operating arm 31, which is adapted to be positioned centrally between the ends ot the shafts 25). A set screw 32 is adapted to hold the shafts 29 in position so that the ends of the slml'u-i 29 extend approximately equal on either side of the arm 31.

The angular members 27 a e slidably supported to the outer ends of the shafts 25) by the bearings 3% which are secured to the angle members 27. The inner edge of the angle members 27 over-lap at 35 with the outer longitudinal edges of the plate 28. In this manner the angle plate members 21' are slidable toward and away from the center o l the plate member 28.

When the stufiing box C is in closed position, as illustrated in Figure 3, the edges 20 engage in the recesses 25 of the angle members l9 and by the operation of the screw members 21 the stufiing box can be adjusted to the desired width, by operating the screws 21 in the direction desired. The operation of the screws 21 expands or ontracts the stuffing box C in so far as its width is concerned. The length of the stuiiing box re mains the same.

The operating screws 21 fdr adjusting the width of the stuffing box C are adapted to be operated in unison by the connecting chain 38 which operates over suitable sprockets carried on the ends of the shafts 21 which project from the side wall 11 of the machine 011 one of the shafts 21 I provide a hand wheel 39 together with a handle l() which is adapted to permit the operation of the screws 21 by rotating the same. In operating the handle 40 the chain 38 is operated so that the screw shafts 21 can he rotated to adjust the width of the stulling box C.

The arm 31 which supports the cover 16 of the stufling box C is pivotally connected at 42 in the bracket 43 which is supported on the top of the sides of the frame 13 of the machine A at the hack of the same. The arm 31 is provided with an outwardly projecting end 141 which is pivotally connected at 4:5 to the link e6, while the link 46 is pivoted at 47 to a second link 18, and this link 18 is pivotally connected at 4-9 to the lower partof the frame 13, as is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. In this manner toggle levers are provided at the links 16 and 4.8 for the operation of the arm 81 so as to raise and lower the top 16 of the stuffing box C. To facilitate the easy operation of the toggle links 16 and 4:8 I provide an operating handle 50 formed with hand on ga end 51 and which is provided with a notch 52 which engages over the shoulder bar 58 along the front face of the base B. This permits the handle to be locked into closed position as the weight of the outer handle end 51 beyond the shoulder 52 is stillicient to hold the handle on the shoulder bar 53, and thus hold the cover 16 locked down into closed position, illustrated in full lines in Figure 8. lVhen the cover 16 is opened the handle 50 is raised oil of the shoulder bar 53 so that the notch 52 is disengaged therefrom and by pushing hackward on the handle, the inner end of which is pivoted at 5 1 to the toggle link 4:6, the links 46 and 48 are operated into the position in dotted outline to raise the cover 16 by pulling down on the lever end. 14 of the arm 31.

To counterbalance the cover 16 I provide a counterweight 55 which is secured to the lever 44 in manner so that the cover 16 can be raised very easily by releasing the handle 50 from the shoulder bar 58. In fact, the counterweight 55 is practically sufficient to raise the cover as soon as the handle 50 is released and moved to push the toggle links 46 and 48 beyond their dead center of pivot at the point 17. This permits the cover to be raised very easily.

The stuffing boa: (J provided with a plunger 56 which is slidably carried by the arm 57 within the stu'liing box C while the arm 57 is slidably supported in the bracket 58 projecting from the rear portion of the bracket 13 on the machine A. The operating arm 57 is pivotally and slidably connected to an operating link arm 59 which is pivotally secured at 60 to the bracket 61 projecting from the lower portion of the hack of the machine A, as illustrated in the drawings.

The operating parts of my machine A are operated by a single motor 14; which is carried by the plate from 13 in the base B and which is connected by a pinion gear 62, to the larger gear 63 which is carried on the shaft (i l in the frame 13. The shaft (341- earries a smaller pinion gear 65 which is adapted to mesh with the operating large gear 66 and this gear (36 is carried by the shaft 67 in the base 13 of the machine A. The gear (36 rotates freely on the shaft 67.

Keyed to the shaft 67' a clutch member (58 which is slid-ably held on the key in an ordinary well known manner, and which is adapted to he held out of engagement with the complemental portion of the clutch formed on the hub of the gear 66 by the cam 69, which engages with the clutch operating pin 70. When the clutch operating pin 70 is raised out of engagement with the cam 69 the spring 71 adapted to push the clutch collar 68 into engagement with the gel? 66, and cause the gear to rotate the shaft 67. The clutch pin 70 is operated by the foot lever 72 through the arm 73, the link 7 1 and the shaft 75, which operates the shaft to rotate the same and cause the link 76 to lift the pin 70 aga st the action of the spring 77. lVhen the foot lever 72 is operated, the clutch (l8 automatically opcrates and thus rotates the shaft 67. The foot lever is ordinarily operated by depressing it and immediately releasing it which permits the pin 70 to drop into position to engage the cam 69 in manner to draw the clutch (58 out of operation upon a complete rotation of the shaft (37. This is of ordinary well known construction and is provided to operate the stutling plunger 56.

The stu'liing plunger operating rod 57 and the connecting link are operated by the connecting link 78 which connects with the arm 79 which secured to the end of the shaft 67. Thus when the foot lever 72 is operated the shaft 67 is rotated automatically by the operation of the motor 141 and the plunger 56 is caused to be pushed through the stuliing box C to eject the stufiing material which is contained in the same. This permits the stuffing material in the stuliing box C to be quickly and effectively ejected by the operation of the motor 141, which can be of a small nature owing to the gearing down of the same, and to provide a powerful pressure to the plungea 56 which stroi'ig enough to push the stufiing material out of the stufiing box into the open end in the front of the same.

To operate the adjustment of the width of the stuffing box C I provide an operating handle which is pivotally connected to the frame at 81, and is formed with a hand engaging end 82. Pivotally connected to the lever 80 I provide yokes 88 which engage in the collars of the clutch members 84L and 85 respectively. The clutch members s4 and 85 are freely rotatable on the ends of the shafts 21 and are adapted to be held in neutral or inoperative position by the lever 80. The lever 80 can be moved so as to throw the clutch 84 into engagement with a complemental clutch portion Set, by movin the handle 80 in one direction, and by moving the handle in the other direction from the neutral position, illustrated in Figure 6, the clutch member 85 can be thrown into the complemental clutch member 85. The clutch members 84 and 85 are carried by the sprocket wheels which carry the chain 38 of the machine A, and these sprocket members are carried to the shaft so as to operate the same when either one of the shafts 21 is rotated.

The shaft 64 carries a sprocket wheel which is adapted to operate the chain 86 which operates the clutch member 84 and by means of a gear connection the shaft 87, which is positioned adjacent the shaft 6 1-, is adapted to be operated by the shaft 6% and to operate the chain 88 carried on a sprocket wheel on the shaft 87 and adapted to extend up to a sprocket on the clutch 85. Thus the chains 86 and 87 operate the clutch members 84 and 85 continuously during the operation of the machine A and are adapted to operate the clutch members 84 and 85 so that they can be thrown into engagement with the complemental clutch members 8% and 85 whenever it is desired, by engaging the handle portion 82 of the lever 80. When the operator of the machine A desires to close the sides of the stufiing box C together to narrow the width of the same, he throws the lever 80 into position to cause the clutch member 84 to operate with the complemental clutch member 84. hen he desires to open or increase the width of the stuffing box C he throws the lever into position to operate the clutch member 85 with the member 85', thus operating the screw members 21 either in one direction or the other, owing to the difference in rotative operation of the chains 86 and 88, one running in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

To permit the operation of releasing the lever 80 into neutral position in the operation of the machine A, I provide a lever arm 90 which is connected to the lower portion of the stufling box, at one of the angle members 19 at 91. The outer free end 532 of the arm 90 carries adjustable pins 93 and 9a which are position d on either side of the handle 80. These stop pins 92 and 93 can be set at the desired position on the lever arm 90 so that in the operation of the screw members 21, the clutches 84!: and 85 can be disengaged automatically when. the position of the sides of the box C assume a predetermined point.

Thus in operation of the machine A when the clutch 8f is thrown into operation to rotate the shafts 21 in a direction to draw the sides of the stufiing box C together or toward each other, when the sides reach the desired position on each side of the center plates 18 and 28, the pin 93 will strike the operating end 82 of the lever 80 to disengage the clutch Set and throw it into neutral position. On the other hand, when the clutch 85 is operated to rotate the shafts 21 into the opposite direction to open or spread the sides of the stuffing box C apart, when the sides have assumed the desired position, the stop pin 94 Wlll engage on the other side of the handle 80 to disengage the clutch 85 and throw the same into neutral position. This operation of the machine is entire] 1 automatic and permits the operator to freely operate the other parts of the machine without concern, after he has operated the lever 80 into the position desired. The adjustment of the pins 93 and 9% permit the setting of the automatic operation of the lever 80 to the desired position, so that the lever 80 will be operated at the proper time.

It is thus apparent that my stnliina' machine A will operate automatically when the lever 80 is engaged to adjust the width of the stuffing box C and to automatically cause the plunger 56 to operate through the stutl ing box C to eject the stutling material into a casing of a cushion. In operation the empty casings which are made of cloth or other suitable material, are slipped over the open end of the stutling box and by pressing the foot lever 72 the ejecting plunger 58 1s operated, one stroke to push the stufling material quickly and firmly into the cushion casing. lVhen the stufiing box C is in open position, as illustrated in Figure 1, the, shilling material is laid within the sides of the lower portion 15 of the stutling box, while it is spread apart, and then the cover 16 is brought down and locked into engagement with the lower portion 15. The lever arm 80 is then operated to operate the clutch 84 to close the sides of the stuffing box C together the desired amount, and as soon as the lever 80 has been automatically set into neutral position by the operating arm 90, the operator pre es the foot lever and the stufiing material 1s ejected into the cushion casing from the stufiing box C, The opcrall) ator does not need to exert any manual. effort outside of operating the levers which are conveniently located at he front of the machine and are positioned so that the operation of the same permits the operator to have his hands free to handle the cushsion, the casing and the stufiing material in the operation of the machine.

Each operation of the machine is simple and effective and as the parts of the machine are compactly arranged in the base beneath the stulfing box, all of these operating parts are out of the Way so that the front of the machine is free to permit the operator to readily slide the empty cushion casings over the stalling box and to receive the same when the stulling plunger is operated to fill the cushion. The automatic operation of the parts is important in my invention and it permits me to provide a cushion filling machine which is very eifective in operation.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my cushion filling machine and while I have illustrated a particular form and con.- struction of the drawings, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative and that the invention can be applied to other uses and carried out by other means within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stuffing machine including an adjustable stufling box, a plunger adapted to operate through said stulling box to eject the sti'lfling material therefrom, a hinge cover forming one-half of said stufling box and lever and toggle arm means for operating and locking said cover in closed position.

2. A. stu'lfing machine for furniti'ire cushions, including a base portion adapted to support and contain the operating motor and gears of said stuffing machine, a'stuffing box forl'ning the upper and lower portions, said stufiing box being a 1lapted to receive the stufiing material, adjustable side inerbers formed on said stufling box adapted to overlap the center portions of the stuffing box, means operable by said motor and said gears in said base portion adapted when manually started to automatically change the width of said stuffing box to any predetermined desired width, a stuffing plunger and means adapted to operate said plunger by said gears to cause said plunger to slide through said stutfing box to eject the stuffing material therefrom.

3. ll. stuiling machine comprising a base portion, a stalling box formed in upper and lower sections, said lower section being fixed to the top of said base, bracket means for pivotally supporting said upper portion at one side of said stuffing box, counterweight means for assisting in rotating said upper portion, toggle lever connecting links adapted to operate said upper portion to rotate the same in a manner to elevate said upper portion above and away from said lower porlion and means connected with said toggle lever adapted to hold the same with the cover in locked closed position and to move the cover into open position.

45. A stuffing machine adapted to fill cushion casings for furniture and the like, a sectional stalling box having top and bot tom portions, means for supporting the top portion in a manner to be elevated above the bottom portion and entirely free thereof, means for locking the top and bottom portions together, motor propelled means for operating the sections of said stufling box in a manner to contract or expand the same to any desired width, and means for automatically releasing said motor operated stulling box means. i

5. A cushion filling machine having a cushion stuffing box supported thereon, a cover for said box, means for supporting said cover in a manner to counterbalance same to operate freely into open and closed position, means for contracting said box over the cushion filling material held therein, operable by an electric motor, and automatic means capable of adjustment for releasing said box contracting operating means.

6. Acushion filling machine having a contractable cushion filling box, power means for operating said box to contract or expand the same to any predetermined width and adjustable releasing means for disengaging the power operating means in the expanding or contracting operation of said box.

7. A cushion, filling machine including an expandable and contractable cushion filling box, power means for operating said box,

leans for automatically stopping the operation of expanding and contracting said box at any predetermined point, plunger means for ejecting the material from said box and. means for automatically operating said plunger by said power means to cause said plunger to automatically operate in a single stroke and return to normal operating position when said plunger operating means is released to be operated by said power means.

8. A cushion filling machine having a contractable cushion filling box, means for contracting said box and automatic releasing means capable of adjustment for disengaging said contracting means.

9. A stufiing machine adapted to fill cushion casings for furniture and the like, a sectional stulfing box having top and bottom portions, means for supporting the top portion in a manner to be elevated above the bottom portion entirely free thereof, means for locking the top and bottom portions together, an electric motor propelling means for operating the sections of said stufiing box to expand or contract the same to the desired Width, and, adjustable means for automatically releasing said motor, at a predetermined point in either expanding or contracting said stuffing box.

10. A stuffing machine adapted to fill cushion casings, a sectional stufiing box having a top portion hinged in a manner to swing free of the bottom portion, an electric motor for operating said stufling machine,

means connecting said motor in a manner 1 to expand or contract said sectional stufiing box, and adjustable means associated with said stuifing box to automatically release the operating means from said motor, a stufiing plunger, and a lever operable by said motor to operate said plunger.

MARTIN H. LANG. 

